Acapulco (Mexico) (AFP) – Hurricane Otis leaves a trail of destruction in the Pacific beach resort of Acapulco with damaged buildings, fallen trees and vehicles after coming ashore overnight as a Category 5 storm. IMAGES
Stains (France) (AFP) – In the town of Stains, north of Paris, Queteur is a waste collector like no other. For the past three years, the horse has been collecting food waste in the streets of his town, as part of an educational initiative to raise awareness of the need to sort bio-waste, which will be compulsory in France from 1 January 2024.
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – The Amerigo Vespucci, the oldest ship in the Italian navy with 92 years of active service, makes a port call in Rio de Janeiro for its second round-the-world voyage. The ship, commissioned in 1930, will pass through five continents, three oceans, 28 countries, and 31 ports.
Geneva (AFP) – The Gaza Strip has lived through 16 years of de-development, a United Nations official in Geneva tells the press, adding that the economic consequences of the Israel-Hamas war are “impossible to determine”. “While a recovery of sorts has taken place in the occupied territories of the West Bank, that has not been the case in Gaza,” Richard Kozul-Wright, Director of the UN’s UNCTAD trade and development agency says at a presentation of an annual report on the Palestinian economy, adding that this divergence “continues a 16-year trend of de-development.”
Kadamjay (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) – In the remote south-western Kyrgyz city of Kadamjay, the local Soviet-era house of culture is home to a workshop for a group of around 20 women who regularly meet there to weave traditional Kyrgyz rugs, known as the “shyrdak”. Among the group of weavers is Tashkan Khakimova, who says that this pastime keeps her busy and helps boost her meagre pension. The group is on a mission to pass their ancient craft on to the next generation — a difficult task in a country where many families are separated by emigration.
Ankara (AFP) – Speaking before the Turkish parliament, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Israel of abusing Turkey’s “good will”. Erdogan has criticised Western powers for their support of Israel and has cancelled plans to visit Israel because of what he calls the “inhumane” war against Hamas militants in Gaza. He is expected to make an appearance at a massive rally in support of Palestinians in Istanbul on 20 October.
Hong Kong (AFP) – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee announces the semi-autonomous city will create its own national security law in 2024, four years after Beijing imposed sweeping legislation aimed at silencing dissent. Massive pro-democracy protests rocked the finance hub in 2019, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the streets to call for greater freedoms and more autonomy from mainland China.
Ankara (AFP) – During a speech at the Turkish parliament, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Hamas is “not a terrorist organisation”, but “liberators fighting to protect their land and their citizens”. The group is branded as “terrorist” by both the European Union and the United States. Israel has bombed Gaza for more than two weeks after Hamas gunmen carried out the worst attack in Israel’s 75-year history. More than 1,400 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attack and 200 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. Over 5,700 have been killed in Gaza since, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Manila (AFP) – Radio dramas were the main source of entertainment for Filipino families after World War II, just like the rest of the world, but their popularity faded with the rise of television, social media and video live-streaming. Many longtime listeners, including the elderly, farmers, factory workers and taxi drivers, still tune in to catch the latest episode of their favourite horror or drama.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) – Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki speak at a high-level session of the UN Security Council in New York.
